Ninety-three
Colorado teachers achieved National Board Certification in 2011,
according to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
This gain represents a 17 percent increase in the total number of
teachers holding National Board Certifications in Colorado in just one
year.

“With our
continued commitment to improving and supporting the effectiveness of
educators across the state, it is great to see Colorado teachers working
toward achieving this national distinction,” said Jami Goetz, executive
director of the Office of Professional Services and Educator Licensing.

This year, 19
states had at least a 10 percent increase in the number of teachers
earning certification over the prior year. Colorado’s increase was 17
percent, ranking sixth for states that have increased their percentages.
Colorado ranks 25th in the total number of teachers (641) who have
earned National Board Certification over time.

"National board certification is
synonymous with great teaching. While our nation is focused on the need
for the highest quality teachers, board certification truly is the gold
standard," said Ronald Thorpe, president and CEO of the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards.

Colorado’s new
national board certified teachers joined the nation’s total of 97,291
teachers who have achieved this level of certification. This year, 6,266
teachers became Nationally Certified.

These accomplished
teachers comprise about 3 percent of the national teaching force - more
than half (55 percent) teach in high-need schools and 15 percent are
certified in areas related to science, technology, engineering and
mathematics.

The state’s top
five school districts in terms of the cumulative total of National Board
Certified Teachers (based on where teachers became certified) are:
Denver Public Schools (104), Boulder Valley School District (100),
Cherry Creek School District (87), Douglas County School District (50)
and Mesa Valley County School District 51 (43).

National Board Certification is a widely respected model of
pay-for-performance and is supported by teachers and administrators
nationwide. For more information
regarding National Board Certification and teacher stipends, contact
Anne Marie Roberts in the Office of Professional Services at
303-866-6648 or
roberts_a@cde.state.co.us